Below is a free CSCS Test for Operatives, also known as the CITB Health, Safety and Environment test. Depending on your job role on the construction site; if you’re a labourer or bricklayer for example, you will have to take this test in order to obtain your CSCS Card. If you have a managerial role, you can practice with the CSCS Test for Managers and Professionals.
This CSCS mock test for Operatives is made up of 50 multiple choice questions. You have 45 minutes to complete the test. The pass mark is 45/50. Click here to read more about the CSCS test pass mark.
Once you’re ready to start the test, click the Begin Test button. Sign up to access all the CSCS study material
CSCS Mock Test for Operatives
Loading test...
Operatives and Specialists Test 2
You have 45 minutes to answer 50 multiple choice CSCS Test questions for Operatives and Specialists. You need to answer at least 45 out of 50 questions correctly to pass.
CSCS Test for Operatives Questions (Printer-Friendly)
1. What does a permit to work allow? Give one answer
A Certain jobs to be carried out safely under more strictly controlled conditionsB Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors to visit the siteC The emergency services to come on to the site after an accidentD Untrained people to work without supervision2. Why is it your employer's legal responsibility to discuss matters of health and safety with you? Give one answer
A Because they must inform you of things that will protect your health and safetyB So that you will never have to attend any other health and safety trainingC So that your employer will not have any legal responsibility for your health and safetyD So you do not have any responsibilities for health and safety3. A scaffold has collapsed and you saw it happen. What should you say when you are asked about the accident? Give one answer
A As little as possible because you don't want to get people into troubleB Exactly what you sawC Nothing, as you are not a scaffold expertD Who you think is to blame and how they should be punished4. When must you record an accident in the accident book? Give one answer
A If you are injured in any wayB Only if you have suffered a broken boneC Only if you have to be off workD Only if you have to go to hospital5. If someone is injured at work, who should record it in the accident book? Give one answer
A Someone from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)B The first aiderC The injured person or someone acting for themD The site manager6. Where should accidents that cause any injury be recorded? Give one answer
A In the Health & Safety Executive's (HSE) accident databaseB In the accident report bookC In the main contractor's diaryD In the site engineer's day book7. If you have a minor accident, who should report it? Give one answer
A A sub-contractorB Anyone who saw the accident happenC The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)D You8. What should not be in a first-aid box? Give one answer
A BandagesB PlastersC Safety pinsD Tablets and medicines9. Someone has fallen from height and has no feeling in their legs, what should you do? Give one answer
A Ensure they stay still and don't move them until medical help arrivesB Raise their legs to see if any feeling comes backC Roll them onto their back and keep their legs straightD Roll them onto their side and bend their legs10. If someone is in contact with a live cable, what should you do first? Give one answer
A Dial 999 and ask for an ambulanceB Phone the electricity companyC Pull them away from the cableD Switch off the power and call for help11. What should you use to clean very dirty hands? Give one answer
A ParaffinB Soap and waterC ThinnersD White spirit12. What are two ways of reducing the risk of transferring hazardous substances from your hands to your mouth? Give two answers
A Putting barrier cream on your hands before eatingB Washing your hands before eatingC Washing your work gloves then putting them on again before eatingD Wearing protective gloves then turning them inside-out before eatingE Wearing protective gloves while you are working13. Which of the following species of animal is the most likely carrier of Weil's disease (leptospirosis) on construction sites? Give one answer
A MiceB RabbitsC RatsD Squirrels14. How can everyone on site help keep rats away? Give one answer
A Ask the Local Authority to put down rat poisonB Only put food and drink rubbish in bins providedC Put rat traps around the siteD Throw food scraps over the fence or hoarding15. Do all types of glove protect hands against chemicals? Give one answer
A No, different types of glove protect against different types of hazardB Only if you cover the gloves with barrier creamC Only if you put barrier cream on your hands as wellD Yes, all gloves are made to the same standard16. You are planning work that needs to use a power tool to cut or grind materials. Give two ways to control the dust. Give two answers
A Fit a dust extractor or collector to the machineB Keep the area clean and tidyC Wear a dust mask or respiratorD Wet cuttingE Work slowly and carefully17. What should you not do when sweeping up after drilling, cutting, sanding or grinding? Give one answer
A Dampen down the areaB Make sure there is plenty of ventilationC Put your protective mask back onD Work as quickly as possible to minimise exposure to dust18. Can the damage by exposure to noise over a long period of time be reversed? Give one answer
A No, the damage is permanentB Yes, if you change jobsC Yes, if you have an operationD Yes, with time19. What health problem can be caused by hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS)? Give one answer
A Blisters on your hands and armsB Damaged blood vessels and nerves in your fingers and handsC Skin cancerD Skin irritation, like dermatitis20. If you see either of these labels on a substance what should you do? Give one answer
A Do not use it as the substance is poisonousB Find out what protection you need as the substance is harmful and could damage your healthC Use it sparingly as the substance is expensiveD Wear gloves as the substance can burn your skin21. What is the main reason for ensuring safe manual handling techniques in the workplace? Give one answer
A To be prepared for safety inspectionsB To complete the job quicklyC To prevent personal injuryD To satisfy the client's requirements22. You are using a trolley to move a heavy load a long distance but a wheel comes off. What should you do? Give one answer
A Ask someone to help you pull the trolley the rest of the wayB Carry the load the rest of the wayC Drag the trolley on your own the rest of the wayD Find another way to move the load23. You need to lift a load that is not heavy, but it is so big that you cannot see in front of you. What should you do? Give one answer
A Ask someone to help carry the load so that you can both see aheadB Get someone to walk in front of you and tell others to get out of the wayC Get someone to walk next to you and give directionsD Move the load on your own because it is so large that anyone in your way is sure to see it24. You have to get something from the back of a van but it's too far inside to handle. What should you do? Give one answer
A Clear a path inside the van so you can get a good grip on itB Drag it closer, then lift itC Lean over slightly while moving it closerD Leave it in the back of the van25. What does this sign mean? Give one answer
A Caution - poor lightingB Safety glasses cleaning stationC Warning - bright lights or lasersD You must wear safety eye protection26. What does this sign mean? Give one answer
A Dispose of substance or contents by burningB Warning - substance or contents are flammable (can catch fire easily)C Warning - substance or contents are harmfulD Warning - substance or contents could explode27. What does this sign mean? Give one answer
A Flashing lights aheadB Radioactive areaC Warning - explosive substanceD Warning - laser beams28. How would you expect to find out the location of the fire assembly point? Give one answer
A By reading your employer's health and safety policyB During a visit by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)C During site inductionD Your colleagues will tell you29. Where should you go if you hear the fire alarm? Give one answer
A To the assembly pointB To the site canteenC To the site officeD To the site welfare facilities30. A foam extinguisher, identified by a cream band, should not be used on what two types of fire? Give two answers
A Electrical firesB Flammable liquids (fuel, oil, varnish, paints, etc.)C Metal and molten metalD Solid material firesE Wood, paper and textile fires32. What should you do if an extension cable has a cut in its outer cover? Give one answer
A Check the copper wires aren't showing in the cut and then use the cableB Put a bigger fuse in the cable plugC Put electrical tape around the damaged partD Report the fault and make sure no-one else uses the cable33. What are the two main functions of the guards on cutting and grinding machines? Give two answers
A To balance the machineB To give you a firm handholdC To stop fragments flying into the airD To stop materials getting onto the blade or wheelE To stop you coming into contact with the blade or wheel34. What should you do if you need to use a power tool with a rotating blade? Give one answer
A Adjust the guard to expose just enough blade to let you do the jobB Adjust the guard to expose the maximum amount of bladeC Remove the guard but wear leather gloves to protect your handsD Remove the guard so that you can clearly see the blade35. Which of the following statements about power tools is true? Give one answer
A Always carry the tool by its cordB Always leave the tool plugged in when you check or adjust itC Always unplug the tool by pulling its cordD Always unplug the tool when you are not using it36. You have been asked to dig to expose power cables. You have been given a cable avoiding tool (CAT) to detect them but you haven't been shown how to use it. What should you do ? Give one answer
A Ask a colleague to show you how to use itB Dig the hole without itC Read the manual before you start workD Tell your supervisor you haven't been trained37. When you walk across the site, what is the best way to avoid an accident with mobile plant? Give one answer
A Get the attention of the driver before you get too closeB Keep to the designated pedestrian routesC Ride on the plantD Wear hi-vis clothing38. You are walking across the site. A large mobile crane reverses across your path. What should you do? Give one answer
A Help the driver to reverseB Pass close to the front of the craneC Start to run so that you can pass behind the reversing craneD Wait or find another way around the crane39. When can a mobile plant operator let people ride in, or on the machine? Give one answer
A As long as the site speed limit is not exceededB Only if it is designed to carry passengers and has a designated seatC Only if the cab door is shutD Only if they have a long way to walk40. Which document must be supplied when an item of lifting equipment is delivered? Give one answer
A A delivery noteB A hazardous information sheetC A repair or damage information sheetD A report of thorough examination41. What should you do if you find a ladder that is damaged? Give one answer
A Don't use it and make sure that others know about the damageB Don't use it and report the damage at the end of your shiftC Try to mend the damageD Use the ladder if you can avoid the damaged part42. What is the best way to stop people falling through voids, holes or fragile roof panels? Give one answer
A Cover them with nettingB Mark the areas with red and white tapeC Tell everyone where the dangerous areas areD Use secure covers that can take the weight of a person and add warning signage43. What is the safest way to get into and out of a deep excavation? Give one answer
A Climb down the shoringB Go down in an excavator bucketC Use a fixed staircaseD Use the buried services as steps44. What is the main reason for having a person positioned immediately outside a confined space whilst work is taking place inside it? Give one answer
A To carry out a risk assessment for the workB To check compliance with the method statementC To start the rescue plan if there is an emergencyD To supervise the work inside the confined space45. What might happen if the level of oxygen drops below 8% in a confined space? Give one answer
A There is a high risk of fire or explosionB You could become unconsciousC You might get dehydratedD Your hearing could be affected46. You are in a deep trench and start to feel dizzy. What should you do? Give one answer
A Carry on working and hope that the feeling will go awayB Get out, let your head clear and then go back in againC Make sure that you and any others get out quickly and report itD Sit down in the trench and take a rest47. According to the guidance on underground service pipes, what does a yellow service pipe carry? Give one answer
A ElectricityB GasC TelecomsD Water48. Which two actions could help minimise waste? Give two answers
A Always take much more than required - just in case you need itB Leave bags of cement and plaster out in the rain, unprotectedC Only take or open what you need and return or reseal anything left overD Re-use off-cuts (such as half bricks) as far as possible, rather than discarding themE Use new materials at the beginning of each day49. Which of the following should be disposed of as hazardous waste? Give one answer
A Damaged hard hatB Glass fibre insulationC Part full tins of oil-based paintD Softwood timber off-cuts50. You would like to store a pallet of bricks in a space under a tree, what should you do? Give one answer
A Do not place them there, as compaction of the soil over the roots can damage the treeB Only place them there if they will not be damaged by passing vehiclesC Only place them there if you can avoid damaging your vehicle or branchesD Place them there as they will not be in the way